Overcast Sky

[indeterminate]

Dont know what contributors here feel about this issue but the high profile emblazement of the Sky logo and the Sky team again at the beginning of the season is having a pariculary negative effct on my enjoyment especially on the current Paris Nice

The spectre of Murdoch and his mafia news corporation, the corruption and phone hacking of deceased schoolgirls is utterly repugnant in a professional cycle race

The Sky cycling team are sullying this great event with their hogging of the front of the echelon and are merely doing Murdochs evil work and normalising his business back into mainstrem media after his disgusting criminal outfit

 

[iLB]

:troll: ?

 

[raindog]

The Sky cycling team are sullying this great event with their hogging of the front of the echelon

They've got no choice - they're race leaders.

We've had dirtier money than this in bike racing, get over it.

 

[Noodley]

Have there been echelons?

 

[johnny mcgurk]

I'm sure the nice gentlemen who own the Katusha and Astana teams share your concerns.

 

[raindog]

And FDJ whose money comes from people's addiction to scratch cards and Cofidis who are nothing more than loan sharks lending money at massive rates of interest to pay off debts.

 

[ianrauk]

hogging of the front of the echelon?


Naughty professional cyclists trying to do thier job huh?

 

[Dayvo]

Oh, and not forgetting that lovely Bernard Tapie chap!

 

[oldroadman]

There are a lot more dodgy characters around than anyone involved with Sky - of which, by the way, Murdoch only owns about 30% and was knocked back from taking a controlling share by the monopolies commission. There are ever such nice people around, involved in teams, some have already been mentioned, and I could name some other bandits but won't, as I like my house and intend to keep it, not pass it over to some lawyer....
Just compare it will footy, and see the provenance of some of the owners there. Cycling falls into perspective as having a very small problem. At least teams don't pay silly wages that actually exceed their income - how's that for a way to do business. The words mega-millionaire, plaything, tax loss, spring to mind!

 

[fossyant]

Sky sponsor just about anything, and they are getting good advertising from both the Sky Cycling Team, and of course the British Squad.

Looks towards the old Rock Racing for a bunch of dodgy characters.

 

[tigger]

Like ORM said, Sky is only 30% News Corp owned, and even it was fully owned by them does it matter? Regarding the phone hacking at News Group, you need to remember that the Sun and News of the World were about 1% of News Corp business. News Corp is a huge business and a lot of power is delegated to a lot of execs on the way. Do we honestly believe that the hacking was sanctioned or encouraged by old man Murdoch or his sons? Yes they may have tried to cover things up and sweep the problem under the carpet - but who hasn't done this in their working life?

What Sky is doing for British Cycling - in the broadest sense, is brilliant in my view. £30 + million a year is getting pumped in. For the benefit of Olympic athletes, pro road team, up and coming young riders. Then there's Sky Ride for the masses, increased funding for BC to campaign for improved cycling infrastructure. Cycling is booming in this country, both the interest in competitive sport and at basic grass routes encouraging people to just get on a bike. Oh, and lets not forget the great job The Times has done to force debate in Westminster about road safety for cyclists.

News Corp and Sky aren't perfect, but what huge corporation is? We have a lot to be thankful for in my view. Just enjoy it I think.

 

[Stockie]

Tigger I could not agree more. I'm 53 years young and got interested in cycling again after watching cavendish in tdf couple of years ago at which time I did not even know we had a British road team. Now I follow them on all the eurosport coverage even been to tour of britian and met g.Thomas ( great bloke by the way). Now planning to do lejog and my other half is even going to do Manchester to Liverpool because she has got into watching sky team on tv.